Older People’s Awards 2015

The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Lynda Hyde joined several guests recently to honour the winners of the Older People’s Awards, which took place at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, as part of Older People’s Day activities across the city.

The Older People’s Awards are a celebration of the achievements of people over 50, and the contributions they make, or have made, to Brighton & Hove.

• Bridging the Generational Gap, sponsored by Newman Business Solutions – Jan Imich won the award for his inspirational school visits to share his experiences of being a prisoner of war.

• Contribution to Creative Arts, supported by Brighton & Hove Council – Udita Everett who runs five singing groups and organised a community singing event during last year’s Older People’s Day activities.

• Contribution to Education, supported by Dorothy Stringer School – Cathy Ives who set up an inspiring creative writing group at the St John’s Centre in Hove.

• Biggest Contribution to the Community, sponsored by Brighton & Hove Buses -Barbara Fisher and June Stenning who set up a knitting group in Portslade in 2008 which they have been coordinating until recently. Together, they knitted several items for local and overseas charities, including the Trevor Mann baby unit, various soldier’s charities and thousands of tiny hats for Innocent Smoothies, with money raised going to Age UK.

• Celebrating Grandparents, supported by The Brighton & Hove Independent – Tree Geeson, 74. Not only did Tree personally help to deliver her granddaughter, Jessica, she has also supported her through a number of health problems and given her daughter additional support, after being diagnosed with MS. Her daughter, Abbie Geeson, said: “Our lives continue to change with Jessica now being severely impaired, and my own diagnosis of MS. I would struggle to cope without the wealth of love and kindness that my mum shares.”

• Duke of Richmond Award, supported by The Duke of Richmond – Doris Ndebele, who recently retired as Chief Officer at Brighton’s Black and Minority Ethnic Community Partnership after 15 years of outstanding service.

• Special Impact Award, supported by Impact Initiatives – Angie Walker, 67, who has been volunteering in the Hangleton and Knoll area for over five years. As secretary for the 50+ steering group and events organiser, she has dedicated her time to improving the lives of others.

Fantastic entertainment was provided by violinist Sarah Milner and singer Dean Ager. Thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters, and our brilliant host Kevin King. The Older People’s Awards are part of Older People’s Day, which celebrates the contributions older people make to society. It falls annually on 1st October, in line with the UN’s International Day of Older Persons.

Older People’s Day 2015 – events across Brighton & Hove

The theme for this year’s Older People’s Day was ‘Full of Life’. To mark the special occasion Impact Initiatives joined forces with other community groups to put on a series of events across Brighton & Hove between 28th September and 4th October, culminating in a glittering awards ceremony at the Hilton Brighton Metropole.

Events took place across the city at outdoor spaces, in sheltered housing, community centres and cafés, and included Lindy Hop lessons, flash mob singing, a tea dance, games, trips, a fancy dress pageant, yoga, breadmaking and so much more.

Thank you to the following people who have partnered with us to make Older people’s Day 2015 such a success: